- Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Media Contact for Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Nearly $1.4 Million to Improve Communities’ Land Use Practices
Danielle Burney, Deputy Communications Director
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced $1.4 million in grants to support local and regional planning agencies in developing plans and implementing land use regulations consistent with their goals and the conservation and development objectives of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ (EEA). This year, 26 projects are being awarded funding through the Planning Assistance Grant Program. Municipalities will use the grants to undertake public processes and hire technical expertise to mitigate and prepare for climate change impacts, improve land use practices, conserve and sustainably develop land, and diversify housing choices.
“Zoning ordinances can have a significant impact on a municipality’s ability to combat the climate crisis,” said EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Transit-oriented housing, protecting open spaces, and building in resilient areas are critical considerations. As weather becomes more extreme, it’s important that we update regulations to help build resiliency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions across Massachusetts.”
The program is part of technical assistance offered to communities to support the Housing Choice Initiative and help municipalities comply with Section 3A of the Zoning Act (MBTA Communities). The projects selected are consistent with the Massachusetts’ Sustainable Development Principles.
“Local and regional planning agencies are key to the Commonwealth achieving its conservation and development goals, and I am grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and EEA Secretary Tepper for that recognition and this investment,” said State Senator Jo Comerford. “I am thrilled that Petersham will be receiving additional funding through the Planning Assistance Grant Program to update their open space and recreation plan and I am thankful to the Petersham officials for this work.”
“I applaud the Healey-Driscoll Administration for investing in housing, protecting open spaces, and help to build in resilient areas to address extreme weather changes, while strengthening our communities and boost the quality of life for our residents in Massachusetts,” said State Representative Vanna Howard. “This grant is a good example of how we’re taking a whole-of-government approach to making Massachusetts more resilient.”
Projects receiving a Planning Assistance Grant are:
|
Grantee |
Municipality |
Project |
Funding |
|
Town of Athol |
Town of Athol |
Master Plan update, including Natural and Cultural Resources and Open Space and Recreation Elements |
$48,876 |
|
Town of Bolton |
Town of Bolton |
Update and enhance existing Farmland and Open Space Residential Development bylaw and regulations |
$7,000 |
|
Berkshire Regional Planning Commission |
Town of Lanesborough |
Comprehensive Plan |
$50,000 |
|
Berkshire Regional Planning Commission |
Town of Washington |
Modernization and recodification of zoning bylaws |
$28,000 |
|
Town of Burlington |
Town of Burlington |
Plan and implement a Mall Road Improvement District |
$50,000 |
|
Town of Canton |
Town of Canton |
Sustainability and Climate Action Plan |
$50,000 |
|
City of Chelsea |
City of Chelsea |
Creation of a tool to facilitate Planning Board & Zoning Board of Appeals review and the enhancement of development proposals |
$50,000 |
|
Town of Chelmsford |
Town of Chelmsford |
Open Space and Recreation Plan |
$30,000 |
|
Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission |
Town of Boylston |
Incorporate Low Impact Development best practices into Zoning Bylaws, Subdivision Rules & Regulations, and Stormwater Bylaw |
$11,250 |
|
Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission |
Regionwide |
Development of “Imagine 2050,” a regional blueprint for future development addressing environmental, economic, transportation, and other priorities |
$50,000 |
|
Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission |
Regionwide |
Food Forest Land Use Audit: Assess tax title properties for suitability for urban food forests and small-scale farming projects |
$15,000 |
|
Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission |
Regionwide |
Regional Heat Resilience Plan – Phase II |
$50,000 |
|
Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission |
West Boylston |
Update Open Space and Recreation Plan Review Floodplain and Watershed Protection |
$11,250 |
|
Town of Cohasset |
Town of Cohasset |
District bylaw to address climate change and climate resiliency |
$37,500 |
|
Town of Dover |
Town of Dover |
Draft and adopt Natural Resource Protection Zoning and Tree Protection Bylaws |
$12,000 |
|
Town of Duxbury |
Town of Duxbury |
Update and enhance Residential Conservation Cluster and Inclusionary Zoning Bylaws |
$41,180 |
|
Town of Grafton |
Town of Grafton |
Master Plan update |
$50,000 |
|
Town of Holbrook |
Town of Holbrook |
Recreation Plan |
$40,000 |
|
Metropolitan Area Planning Council |
City of Framingham, Town of Natick, City of Newton, City of Watertown, and City of Wellesley |
Creation of I-90 Corridor Plan to provide coordinated development and resilience strategies |
$150,000 |
|
Town of Mendon |
Town of Mendon |
Zoning Diagnostic & Comprehensive Zoning Update |
$50,000 |
|
City of Methuen |
City of Methuen |
Update development regulations to support green infrastructure and stormwater best management practices |
$39,500 |
|
Town of Millbury |
Town of Millbury |
Housing Production Plan |
$13,500 |
|
Montachusett Regional Planning Commission |
Town of Harvard |
MBTA Communities Compliance |
$30,000 |
|
Montachusett Regional Planning Commission |
Town of Phillipston |
Review and update Zoning Bylaw |
$50,000 |
|
Merrimack Valley Planning Commission |
Regionwide |
Update regional Priority Growth Strategy |
$75,000 |
|
City of Newburyport |
City of Newburyport |
Storey Avenue mixed-use village center re-zoning |
$50,000 |
|
Northern Middlesex Council of Governments |
Regionwide |
Creation of a regional housing strategy plan “At Home in Greater Lowell” |
$125,000 |
|
Town of Petersham |
Town of Petersham |
Update Open Space and Recreation Plan |
$20,000 |
|
Town of Plymouth |
Town of Plymouth |
Climate Action Planning – Phase II (MVP Plan Implementation) |
$50,000 |
|
City of Revere |
City of Revere |
Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan |
$47,500 |
|
City of Southbridge |
City of Southbridge |
Housing Production Plan |
$15,000 |
|
Town of Spencer |
Town of Spencer |
Zoning Diagnostic and Comprehensive Zoning Update |
$50,000 |
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